The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band (feat Rick Vito) – Blue Again! (Hypertension).

The granddaddy of British percussion is back with a band that is only half filled with ex-Fleetwood Mac stars. Fleetwood is returning to his blues roots with this series of songs and he has never sounded better. Rick Vito’s Red Hot Gal opens this live album. It’s a standard electric blues played by top musicians and with slide guitar to the fore. Just try and stop yourself joining in. There was always going to be a big Fleetwood Mac influence on this album and Peter Green’s Looking For Somebody is given a wonderfully atmospheric treatment by Vito (another link to Fleetwood Mac, albeit a different incarnation). The energetic Fleetwood Boogie allows the pianist to let loose and another Peter Green song, Stop Messin Around has Vito carrying on his great guitar work. Rattlesnake Shake is much heavier than Green’s version and although I have never heard of Vito’s When I Do The Lucky Devil before, I have just stumbled across a wonderful boogie – absolute class! The inclusion of another Peter Green song, Love That Burns, continues that Fleetwood Mac link and shows that Green’s songs have become standards in their own rite. Rollin Man/Bayou Queen is a great shuffling blues with little discernable seams between the songs and has Vito pinpointing the notes as he does with such aplomb. There is not a lot to be said about Black Magic Woman. The two iconic versions by Santana and Fleetwood Mac have stood as classics for years and Vito gives a more than acceptable guitar performance. I Got A Hole In My Shoe has a bayou feel and the closing track, another played by Peter Green but written by Elmore James, Shake Your Moneymaker, epitomises the drumming sound of Mick Fleetwood. It has been kept true to the original and remains a good time boogie.

There is also a four track bonus CD which includes Albatross, a difficult song to better although Vito does make a very good effort to do so. Also included are the Shadows sounding Napuli Nocturne, The Supernatural (on which Vito may even surpass Green) and La Mer D’Amour which is pleasant guitar based Hawaiian style.

There was never any way that this album was not going to link up with the early incarnations of Fleetwood Mac and I’m happy that it does. In fact, Fleetwood dedicates the album to the other original members, Peter Green, John McVie and Jeremy Spencer. British music should never be without the drums of Mick Fleetwood and the songs of Peter Green.

http://www.hypertension-music.de/
http://www.mickfleetwood.com/

David Blue.

Various Artists – The Fine Art Of Music (CoraZong).

This is a 2 CD showcase of CoraZong’s current catalogue and has artists such as Peter Cooper, Krista Detor, Kim Carnes, Alastair Moock and Last Train Home displaying their wares.

CoraZong is well-known for their commitment to artists that are just on the edge of genres such as Americana, Folk, Blues and Country.

JP Den Tex gives us the sedate MOR The Lights Of Phoenix and ups the stakes with a tortured vocal on the piano ballad, Looking For Rosie. Alastair Moock has his usual quirky vocal on the standout live version of My Creole Belle. He exudes an old style class with excellent playing all around. He also contributes God Saw Fit To Make Tears, which is a gentle Americana with weary vocal.

The Mercy Brothers’ I Believe I’ll Make A Change tips its hat to Woody Guthrie whereas Waiting For A Better Day shows their country blues side. Peter Cooper shows he is a star on Wine and he has that great American voice so suited for the gentle country of Gospel Song.

Jeff Talmadge is on the gentle country trail with Wrong Train. He also gives us a live version of Wild And Precious Thing which shows him to be a most accomplished singer songwriter. Krista Detor’s dark Go Ahead & Wait has silver linings if you wait and More Than I Dare Say has more of her silky voice.

John Coinman throws in some Tex-Mex on Down In Nogales and a very good example it is too. However, he also gives us the strange You And Me, Oui which doesn’t really work. Inneke 23 & The Lipstick Painters gives us the topical Christmas Song. Also here is Elephant Crossing, a quirky song with bouncy fiddle and banjo.

Kim Carnes has the gentle brilliance of Goodnight Angel on which she has a great vocal partnership with her backing singer. She still has that husky voice from Bette Davis Eyes and she unleashes it on Still Warmed By The Thrill (live). However, this is so different from what she is known for as it is slow and acoustic. The excellent Last Train Home contributes Flood which is strong, moody country tinged rock. They also supply (Say) Won’t You Be Mine which has tremendous guitar and pedal steel with an old style country/bluegrass feel.

Patricia Vonne is raucous and rebellious on Rebel Bride (live in New York City). She also gives us some classic Americana on Joe’s Gone Ridin’ and this shows her strong voice and a top backing band. Jean Paul Rena & Terrawheel provide some heavy guitar R&R. It’s raw and just about ok but they show their blues and roots side on the acoustic demo of Blue Son.

As a sampler for CoraZong’s eclectic style of music, this could not be any better. I defy you not to find something that you like.

http://www.corazong.com/

David Blue.

Ruthie Foster – The Phenomenal (Proper Records).

When you name an album ’The Phenomenal’ then you’d better be able to back it up. Texan Ruthie Foster immediately dispels any doubts as she lays down her credentials on Cuz I’m Here, a sultry, soulful R&B. Heal Yourself has good vibes and more upbeat than the opener. She has a classic R&B voice (that’s original R&B). Fruits Of My Labor is a Lucinda Williams song and an emotion laden ballad as you would expect. You can just drift away on the back of this. Son House’s People Grinnin’ In Your Face is sung a capella and the power of Gospel is stamped all over it. Up Above My Head (I Hear Music In The Air) is the third cover in a row. This time it is Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Foster gives the song a smouldering contemporary feel.

She was one of the stars of the 2007 Cambridge Folk Festival and on this evidence it’s not hard to understand why. Harder Than The Fall is an uplifting spiritual and highlights Foster’s songwriting talent. I don’t think that the swamp noises on Beaver Creek Blues are totally necessary as this folk blues is strong enough to stand on its own. Special mention here to the drummer. Mama Said is an acoustic folk blues and Eric Bibb comes to mind as it has that gentle spiritual feel to it. Phenomenal Woman is sweet, powerful soul and Foster has maintained that voice throughout. Eric Bibb’s A Friend Like You is so smooth and she continues the gentle sounds through to the end on I Don’t Know What To Do With My Heart.

Ruthie Foster has a voice that will take your heart and caress it and this album will be a worthy addition to any collection.

http://www.proper-records.co.uk/
http://www.ruthiefoster.com/

David Blue.

Marc Ford & The Neptune Blues Club – Marc Ford & The Neptune Blues Club (Provogue).

This is Former Black Crowes guitarist Ford’s second album for Provogue and he has continued his growth as a songwriter and solo artist. On his last album, Weary And Wired, he was compared to guitar greats such as Clapton, Hendrix and Beck so no pressure there then! This new offering opens with Main Drain, which is an excellent way to start as it grabs the listener from the first note. Locked Down Tight is blues based R&B and shows how good a band that Ford has pieced together. This is not the best vocally but it will get you going. Freedom Fighter is a tough, blues based, slow rocker and Ford’s guitar work is just classic rock – a big stage solo. It’s very atmospheric with harp from Bill Barett and organ from Mike Malone playing their parts and Ford back on form vocally. The classy Go Too Soon is old time rock n roll and Don’t Get Me Killed is slowed down with a fuzzed vocal added. The latter is an earthy blues with stinging guitar and haunting harp, this time from Malone. Last Time Around Again is good old Southern rock, played well and Ford is on familiar ground here.

Spaceman is grinding, airy and grungy. It verges on prog rock and over 8 minutes of it too! Pay For My Mistakes has bluesy slide guitar and a great vocal as he ups the standard. Good harmonica from Barett. Shame On Me has a laconic vocal over a running boogie – good stuff, and Mother’s Day stays with the blues theme. This is very, very good and allows Ford to show all of his skills. Smilin’ is funky but weak in parts and at over 8 minutes it is a bit of a struggle. They close with Keep Holdin’ On, a slow, world weary Southern rock and this is what Ford is best at.

http://www.provoguerecords.com/

Chris Duarte Group – Vantage Point (Provogue).

Chris Duarte appeared on the scene in the early 90s and wowed industry insiders at the South X Southwest convention. Since then he, and his band, has built a reputation as one of the best blues rock guitarists around. From his debut album for Silvertone Records to last years commercially and critically acclaimed Blue Velocity, he has consistently raised his standard, album by album. The latest in that line is Vantage point, which opens with the high impact The Best I Can Do and this boogie follows on perfectly from Blue Velocity. Satisfy is another no nonsense blues/boogie with a very deliberate beat. It has a good time feel much in the Dave Edmunds style. The instrumental, Slapstak, has funky guitar and bass peppered by the drums of Jeff Reilly who has replaced Damien Lewis since the last album. The removal of vocal duties allows Duarte to really display his true guitar virtuosity. More Boogie is a title that should be easy to follow and the song itself has no airs and graces. Duarte impresses with his fleet fingered guitar. Troubles On Me is a slow Chicago blues with an explosive solo and is perfect for the power trio format.

They crank up the speed for Let’s Have A Party, another impact boogie but the one disappointment of the album is The End Of Me And You. It’s funky but it just doesn’t really hit the mark although you cannot fault Duarte’s guitar playing. They are back on form with Blow Your Mind, which is a grinding rocker. She Don’t Live Here Anymore is heavy rock and has one of the better vocals too. Pounding drums from Reilly lead to an increase of speed after a couple of minutes and the band lets loose for a good old fashioned rocker. Babylon is a Guns N Roses/Black Crowes amalgam with a little Aerosmith thrown in for good measure. What that produces is an expansive track with top guitar work from Duarte. They close with an instrumental, Woodpecker, and that’s never a good idea in my book. However, this gives Duarte a showcase for his guitar and bassist Joseph Patrick Moore, Dustin Sargent’s replacement, is given a chance to shine. His easy style comes through very well and Duarte’s guitar is as fast as Woody himself at times. There are extended versions of Blow Your Mind and Troubles On Me added as a bonus to finally close things off.

Duarte has continued his streak of ever improving albums.

http://www.thechrisduartegroup.com/
http://www.provoguerecords.com/

David Blue.

Peter Cooper – Cautionary Tales (CoraZong)

Cautionary Tales is the debut album from East Nashville singer songwriter Peter Cooper. There is a bright opening in the form of the nu-country Boy Genius and All The Way To Heaven is world weary but will be a crowd pleaser with its singalong style chorus. There is some excellent pedal guitar from the legendary Lloyd Green as Cooper tips his hat to the old timers. The word legendary is over used these days but in Green’s case it is more than justified. Just listen to his contribution to The Byrds’ Sweetheart Of The Rodeo amongst many others (he has played on more than 100 number 1 country records). Cooper’s laconic style is coming through in spades on tracks such as Wine. It’s a simple execution of a topic well discussed and has a pleasant feel, just like the feeling after a bottle of wine by coincidence!! Couple Of Lies is gentle but again covers a harder topic whereas Take Care is a bit more upbeat, musically. This fractured country gets a bit grungy at times with harp from Todd Snider and electric guitar from Cooper.

Mission Door has the addition of none other than Nanci Griffith on vocal along with Snider and Fayssoux McLean with Jen Gunderman’s accordion in the background – a masterpiece. They Hate Me is a little bit of boogie and this is about as excitable as Cooper gets. He is a very good social commentator and manages to raise a few smiles during the album. 715 (For Hank Aaron) is pure Americana. It’s about baseball, how more American can you get? Lyle Lovett comes to mind throughout and on this track in particular.

Take Cooper’s advice and take caution on the topics of his songs but there is no need to be so wary of the man or his music.

http://www.corazong.com/
www.myspace.com/petercoopermusic

David Blue.